Today's News

If I could give an award to Casey Circuit Judge James G. Weddle, I would. He knows what it's all about.

Weddle refused to sign a settlement order recently for a lawsuit involving a Liberty teenager who sued the County government. Driving a Mack truck, a County road worker rear-ended 17-year-old Jeremy Wilson's Chevy Blazer in December 2006.

Weddle denied the motion presented by attorneys because the order of dismissal provided for a settlement that is confidential.

No need to throw out those pork chops. Though the latest virus compromising human health is known as swine flu, it has little to with its namesake.

"[It has] nothing to do with pork products," said Lake Cumberland District Health Department Medical Director Dr. Christene Weyman. "Animals, like us, get flu virus infections. Normally these are species specific, however, under the right circumstances flu viruses mix, producing a novel virus, which has components from all species and can infect humans.

It was an image he would never forget. As Jack Strawder pulled into his ex-wife's Lakeside, Va. driveway one Sunday in 1968, he saw a car pulling away. From the back seat of that car, his daughter, 9-year-old Vicki Sue, sat waving at him.

"I thought they were going to the store, so I just waited for them to come back."

They never did.

And ever since, Jack has been looking for Vicki Sue.

Last weekend, Jack, 71, saw his daughter for the first time in 41 years.

History came alive for a group of Taylor County students last week, and they left their mark on history, too.

The students, from the Taylor County School District's Student Technology Leadership Program, are participating in a statewide project to help locate Kentucky historical markers.

The students - from Taylor County elementary, middle and high schools - are locating about 25 historical markers in Taylor County using a Global Positioning System and will then enter their data on the Mapping Kentucky History project's Web site.

Taylor Circuit Judge Allan Bertram has denied a request for a new trial or to vacate a Taylor County jury's award of more than $300,000 to a Lebanon man after he found a metal hook in food he purchased at Taco Bell in Campbellsville.

In April 2007, Lebanon attorney James L. Avritt Jr. filed a complaint in Taylor Circuit Court on behalf of Steven L. Farmer against TB of America Inc., Larry Fugate and Fugate Enterprises.

This year's top Chamber of Commerce award winner is full of hot air. Well, not really ... but he sure hopes some balloons will be soon.

Greg Gribbins is this year's recipient of the Everette Lee Citizen of the Year Award. Named for former Chamber and tourism leader Everette Lee, the award recognizes individuals who have given substantially of their time, talent and leadership to make the community a better place.

Gribbins was one of six award winners recognized at Thursday night's annual Chamber of Commerce banquet. (See sidebar for a list of the other winners.)